Complaint-Free Zone

My friend Patti Digh suggests that we strive to eliminate all complaining, whining, gossiping and griping from our lives for 37 days. I've been working on that one myself recently so when I saw it in print, about halfway down the left sidebar of her blog post for today, I decided to really focus on it for the next 37 days.

Here are several examples of things that I have managed NOT to complain/whine/gossip/gripe about in the past couple of days:...but wait...oh heck! And they are all really good ones, too! Each one infinitely justifiable and designed to allow ME to appear superior and oh, so right.

Gee-whiz, what's there left to talk about? Uh...okay, I've got it...I'm thankful that I won't have to spend Thanksgiving with those people ever again. That didn't count, right?

I'm a Baby Girl!

Two nights ago, having been delayed until the evening rush hour and not wanting to join the line of ants with headlights crawling along I-26, I spent my second night in the City of Columbia, SC, at yet another WalMart. In the morning I took my usual walk around the parking lot. I try to walk a mile or two wherever I am and a WalMart parking lot is the perfect place if you get out early in the day. I always do some stretches when I'm finished, and since I like to lean on something while stretching my leg muscles, I often assume a position at the front of the motorhome with hands on the hood, head down and one leg extended behind me. I probably look as if I were trying to push the vehicle backwards. I also do some Tai Chi moves that I learned in a class for seniors, to help me retain good balance and leg strength.

Yesterday morning, as I was "pushing the motorhome," I heard a distinctly African American male voice call from a passing car, "Hey, Baby Girl, are you okay?" Since I began doing this very public exercise routine, I had expected that someone might ask if I were having trouble with the vehicle; I hadn't anticipated that my head-down posture, gray hair falling over my face, might be mistaken for a different kind of trouble. I looked up and barely got, "Yeah," out of my mouth when my would-be rescuer rolled up the window and continued on his way. As I recall the incident now, I wonder what he would have done if I'd said "no" instead.

I'm trying not to make it significant that the man was black, but upon further reflection it seems to me that, in general, African Americans tend to be more respectful of their matriarchs than the majority white population. The same might be said of Latinos, Asians and Native Americans. If you follow this line of thought to its logical conclusion, the fact that the "majority" is predicted to become the "minority" in the U.S. by 2042 leads to the possibility that if I live that long I could become revered rather than ignored; that is, if the new majority has anything to teach the rest, and if they have not become too Americanized along the way. Of course, I'll be 95 by then so it's not likely that I'll care.

Here are some photos of Sesquicentennial State Park in Columbia, where I saw my first live oak grove and my first fire ants. I'm definitely in the deep south now!

On the Road Again

I wanted to wait until after Tuesday to post again, and then things got away from me in preparation to leave Asheville for the next adventure. Tomorrow is Tuesday again and whatever profundities I was planning to lay on you concerning the election of Barack Obama have drifted away like the mist rising from the Great Smoky Mountains. I do have a confession to make: race was the biggest factor in my voting decision. Since Obama threw his hat into the ring I have firmly held to the belief that an African American president would enhance our worldwide reputation and improve race relations here at home. Having often decried the fact that Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered 45 long years ago, seemed to have fallen on deaf ears, I now view those 45 years as but the blink of an eye. How far we have come.


I have another confession: I was reluctant to leave Asheville. The scenery (the photo was taken from my daughter's front yard), the weather, being with my daughter's family after the wedding, enjoying time with friends, all conspired to make me too comfortable and complacent.


But I tore myself away and headed south to get warm. I spent two nights in a lovely campground at Croft State Natural Area near Spartanburg, SC. They have a horse stable: what a treat! Plus a lake and trails and all for only $15/night. Each morning I got up early and walked to the stables to greet the horses and give them a little hay, then down to the lake to enjoy the leaf color reflected in the water and watch the birds flitting about. It's easy to be in the moment when I'm the only human around. And campers are a nature-loving lot, of course, so it wasn't long before I was drowning in nature and wondering how I could have hesitated to leave the comfort of the familiar when the novelty of the unexpected is what fills my soul.


I'm in Columbia, SC, today having spent the night at my favorite last-minute, end-of-driving-day spot. I splurged on breakfast at Denny's, where, I swear, the black folk were happy, happy, happier than usual. I just want to hug 'em all! Soon I'll drive into downtown and visit the state capitol building, one of the things I like to do whever I'm in a capital city. Then on to another state park campground for a couple of days before heading on toward Atlanta.

Catch ya on the flippy flop...